L.Leroy Haute Horlogerie Watch Review
This year, L.Leroy, famed for Haute Horlogerie, celebrates its 240 year anniversary. The Maison promises to mark the occasion by unveiling a new high-complication timepiece at the forthcoming Geneva Watch Days. Angus Davies looks at the history of the company, including its esteemed clients and past creations.
Image – L.Leroy provides a tantalising taste of what’s to come
Geneva Watch Days 2025
In a few weeks’ time, legions of collectors, retailers and journalists will descend on Geneva, eager to see the latest horological creations from the great and the good. Since the inaugural show in 2020, Geneva Watch Days has become an annual must-attend exhibition. Under the gaze of the Jet d’Eau, numerous brands will display their novelties within hotels and boutiques around the city.
One of the highlights of this year’s GWD will undoubtedly be the unveiling of a new ‘high complication timepiece’ by L.Leroy, the historic Maison currently celebrating its 240 year anniversary.
Image – L.Leroy teaser image
Le Roy – an esteemed name
Watch obsessives are likely to recognise the names, Le Roy and Leroy (the spelling of each surname should not be confused). Several of France’s most celebrated watchmakers were named ‘Le Roy’, albeit not all of them have been related. For instance, Julien Le Roy (1686-1759) was appointed ‘Horloger du Roi’, clockmaker to the King, by King Louis XV and was provided with lodgings at the Louvre. Julien Le Roy is widely considered one of the greatest watchmakers of the 18th century.
Julien had four sons: Pierre Le Roy, Charles Le Roy, Jean-Baptiste Le Roy and Julien-David Le Roy. Pierre Le Roy (1717-1785) famously invented the detent escapement and, along with Ferdinand Berthoud (1727 – 1807), played an important role in the development of marine chronometers, supplying several examples to the French Royal Navy.
Basile-Charles Le Roy (1765-1839)
Another prominent watchmaker from the 18th century was Basile-Charles Le Roy (1765-1839), who was born in Paris. He was not related to Julien or his son, Pierre; however, sharing the same surname probably did Basile-Charles no harm. According to the British Museum, Basile-Charles founded his watchmaking business, ‘Le Roy’ at the Palais Royale in Galerie de Pierre in 1785. Amidst the turmoil of the French Revolution, Basile-Charles chose to hide from view, later re-emerging during the reign of Napoleon I. In 1805, Basile-Charles became ‘watchmaker to the Emperor’. Such was the extraordinary demand for his products, Basile-Charles chose to collaborate with specialists in the French Jura and Switzerland.
Image – L.Leroy teaser image
Le Roy and Leroy (two names not to be confused)
In 1828, Basile-Charles invited his son to join the business and its name was changed to ‘Le Roy & Fils’. Later, with no descendants wishing to take over the company, Le Roy & Fils was sold to Casimir Halley Desfontaines. It relocated to London and was renamed ‘Le Roy & Sons’. The firm became ‘Queen Victoria’s Watchmaker’ in 1863. Crafting beautifully styled timepieces, often incorporating enamel work and precious stones, Le Roy & Sons was held in the highest esteem.
In 1888, after Casimir passed away, his brother, Jules Halley Defontaines, assumed control of the company and appointed Louis Leroy as a junior partner. The following year, Louis’s father, Théodore-Marie Leroy (1827-1899) acquired the business and it was renamed ‘L.Leroy & Cie’. Théodore-Marie was a horologist to the French navy and had been awarded the Legion of Honour in 1884. He was particularly known for making chronometers.
Image – L.Leroy & Cie, located on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris
Ultimately, Théodore-Marie was survived by Louis Leroy and his brother, Léon Leroy. The company eventually returned to France, relocating to the prestigious rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris where it remained until 1980.
In 2004, L.Leroy was acquired by its current owner, Spanish entrepreneur, Miguel Rodriguez.
L.Leroy Haute Horlogerie – 240 years of excellence
Throughout its history, L.Leroy has produced highly precise chronometers, supplying various navies. During the 18th and 19th centuries, chronometers were essential instruments used to determine longitude at sea and, by default, safely navigate vast oceans. To have been entrusted with supplying chronometers demonstrates that L.Leroy was held in high regard during this period.
Image – L.Leroy marine chronometer
However, L.Leroy didn’t solely make utilitarian, precision instruments; it also crafted objects of beauty. For example, Basile-Charles Le Roy created a tact watch that is currently in the possession of the British Museum. Tact watches are sometimes described as a ‘blindman’s watch’, as the owner can determine the prevailing time by touch alone. In some cases, tact watches were purchased by individuals with normal vision. In polite society, a tact watch allowed its owner to discreetly ascertain the time without appearing rude. The example of Basile-Charles’ tact watch held in the British Museum, produced between 1805-1815, is formed of gold and adorned with enamel, diamonds and pearls.
The above images show a small gold pocket watch bearing the inscription, ‘To the Queen’
A small gold pocket watch (circa 1875) is yet another interesting L.Leroy timepiece, incorporating enamel and diamonds. It bears an inscription on its case, ‘To the Queen’, created at a time when the firm operated from New Bond Street, London.
Image – Leroy 01
Perhaps one of the most famous L.Leroy creations is the aptly named ‘Leroy 01’. In his horological tome, ‘Patek Philippe – The Authorised Biography’, Nicholas Foulkes refers to a high complication watch. ‘Parisian maker Leroy, for instance, carried off the Grand Prix at the Paris World Exhibition of 1900 with a watch that bristled with 25 complications, including such non-horological functions as a barometer and altimeter.’ This exquisitely engraved pocket watch is beautiful to behold and today resides within the Musée du Temps in Besançon. Its remarkable tally of complications remained a record until the advent of the Patek Philippe Calibre 89, a watch endowed with 33 complications (1989).
Excellence often attracts the well-heeled and powerful and over the years, L.Leroy has proved no exception. The Maison has attracted the patronage of Marie Antoinette, Marcel Proust, Henri Matisse, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Alfred Nobel, to name but a few.
L.Leroy Haute Horlogerie – the Miguel Rodriguez years
With heritage comes responsibility. Since acquiring the luxury marque, Miguel Rodriguez has taken his time, working with a talented team of individuals, to create watches worthy of the historic name of ‘L.Leroy’.
Image – Miguel Rodriguez
Rodriguez is very familiar with watchmaking, owning several brands, including Perrelet and the Festina Group. Moreover, he also owns the movement specialist, Soprod. However, L.Leroy is the jewel in the crown, a prestigious marque that inhabits the upper echelons of Haute Horlogerie.
Above image – pendant tact watch
In 2023, L.Leroy showcased its watchmaking expertise, creating a pièce unique based on a pendant tact watch made for Prince Emil Maximilian Leopold August of Hesse. Originally made for Only Watch, the timepiece was later withdrawn from the auction. The Maison set the bar very high with this one-of-a-kind timepiece. Featuring a hand-wound movement, endowed with a minute repeater and flying tourbillon, the specification brims with mechanical complexity. Moreover, the model is also blessed with a prepossessing appearance, featuring an enamel dial with flinqué soleil decoration, a hand-engraved case formed of Grade 5 titanium and white gold and a judicious application of diamonds. Each element contributes to the model’s harmonious mien while showcasing the Maison’s remarkable prowess for artistic crafts.
Above image – a one-of-a-kind timepiece featuring a minute repeater and flying tourbillon (2023)
L.Leroy Haute Horlogerie – the future
Today, L.Leroy watches are manufactured in Geneva, a city with a rich horological heritage of its own. Hugo Lesizza is responsible for guiding the famous marque, upholding its esteemed reputation and creating new watches worthy of this historic name.
Image – a taste of what’s to come
In a few weeks, the Maison will unveil a new ‘high complication timepiece’, no doubt crafted to an exalted level and destined to perpetuate the brand’s remarkable 240 year history. Personally, I can’t wait to travel to Geneva Watch Days and discover the next chapter of this remarkable story.